Core Area Conservation: Wyoming’s Sage Grouse Strategy€¦ · Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy...
Transcript of Core Area Conservation: Wyoming’s Sage Grouse Strategy€¦ · Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy...
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Core Area Conservation:
Wyoming’s Sage Grouse Strategy
Wyoming Legislature
Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee
August 2015
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History of the Issue
• 2003: Wyoming management plan
• 2005: “Not Warranted”
• 2007: Establishment of SGIT
• 2008: Freudenthal Executive Order
• 2010: “Warranted but Precluded”
• 2010: Revised Executive Order
• 2011: Mead Executive Order
• 2013 Court Ordered Decision
• 2015: Mead Revised EO
• 2015: Determination by USFWS
Photo © James Yule Used by permission
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Oppressive Nature of the ESA
• Listing standards
• Unprecedented scale of review is range-wide
• Broad distribution of Sage-grouse
• Highly diverse threats to populations
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Consequences of Listing
• Every bird – not populations or groups of birds
• Critical habitat is all suitable habitat
• Consultation required for all federal nexus
• All birds – All habitats
• More restrictive stipulations – NTT or more
• “Take” applies on all lands – private included
• “Take” = “harm” or “harass”…….
• Five years before review of status
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Realities of Inaction
A listing would apply to ALL lands in pink, blue and green. Wyoming Core-Area strategy addresses 86% of the birds within the blue polygons.
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Wyoming Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy
• Conserve populations and habitats where we can have the most effect (core areas)
• Maintain economic opportunity, particularly where conflicts are minimal
• Build a sound ecological and economic model for conservation
• Include major stakeholders in decision- making process
Photo © James Yule -Used by permission
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Core Area Strategy - Start With the Birds We Have
• Lek Driven • Winter Areas • Connectivity • Habitat Quality • BEST OF BEST • Other Habitat With Potential For “Lift”
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Start With the Birds We Have
Recognize existing uses and valid existing rights, within the context of likely and credible development potential.
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Adjustments Based on Local Knowledge
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Verification of Assumptions Was “Spot On”
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Wyoming Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy
1. REMOVE OR AMELIORATE THREATS
• Biological Base
2. PROVIDE ADEQUATE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 3. AVOID, MINIMIZE, MITIGATE
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Best Available Science
• AVOIDANCE
• MINIMIZATION OF FOOTPRINT
• MITIGATION
• UNDERSTAND TOLERANCES
• ADEQUATE MONITORING
• ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
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Applying Information Range- Wide
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Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy
Photo © James Yule -Used by permission
• Defensible management strategy
• Flexibility in core areas with adequate data
• Better understanding of SG tolerances
• Avoid, minimize, mitigate
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Changes to Existing Executive Order
• Primarily clarifications and corrections
• More orderly presentation
• Consistency with Resource Management Plans
• Lengthy process through SGIT
• Final review by Governor
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Changes to Existing Executive Order
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Changes to Existing Executive Order
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Changes to Existing Executive Order
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Changes to Existing Executive Order
• Added approximately 150,000 net acres
• Three primary additions – Fontenelle, Hiawatha, Baggs
• Added nearly 1,300 males on leks
• Increased total males from 78% to 82%
• Recognizes existing rights
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Expectations:
• August 2015 - Completion of federal RMPs
• September 2015 - Recommendation from USFWS
• March 2017 – Listing IF warranted
• Congressional Action is a possibility
• Litigation is certain
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Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy
“The Fish and Wildlife Service believes that the core area strategy…if implemented by all landowners via regulatory mechanisms, would provide adequate protection for sage-grouse and their habitat in that State” (75 FR 13910).